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Friday, July 9

Several investigations focus on intelligence

By Jon Frandsen | GNS

WASHINGTON - The scathing Senate intelligence committee report on intelligence used to make a case for the war in Iraq is just part of a broad effort to identify and correct the way the government collects and uses intelligence in the age of terrorism.

Here are some other ongoing investigations:

- The Senate intelligence committee report is Phase 1 of its probe. Phase 2 will focus on how the Bush administration used and interpreted intelligence, a divisive and controversial question that is likely to be an issue in the presidential and congressional campaigns. The committee is unlikely to complete its work until after the election despite protests from Democrats.

- President Bush named a commission, headed by former Sen. Chuck Robb, D-Va., and U.S. Circuit Judge Laurence Silberman, that also is looking into pre-war Iraq intelligence. Because of the sensitive nature of its work, it is not planning to hold public hearings. The commission's report is not due until March.

- The independent Sept. 11 commission appointed by Bush is expected to release its report near the end of the month. An examination of intelligence collected prior to the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington is just one aspect of its probe. The House and Senate intelligence committees have already issued critical reports on pre-Sept. 11 intelligence failures.

- The Senate intelligence committee eventually plans to hold hearings on how to reform the Central Intelligence Agency and all the other agencies tasked with gathering intelligence globally. But that will be just one small step in a difficult process that could take years to complete.